The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories eBook

THE MAN THAT CORRUPTED HADLEYBURG

It was many years ago. Hadleyburg was the most
honest and upright town in all the region round about.
It had kept that reputation unsmirched during three
generations, and was prouder of it than of any other
of its possessions. It was so proud of it, and
so anxious to insure its perpetuation, that it began
to teach the principles of honest dealing to its babies
in the cradle, and made the like teachings the staple
of their culture thenceforward through all the years
devoted to their education. Also, throughout
the formative years temptations were kept out of the
way of the young people, so that their honesty could
have every chance to harden and solidify, and become
a part of their very bone. The neighbouring
towns were jealous of this honourable supremacy, and
affected to sneer at Hadleyburg’s pride in it
and call it vanity; but all the same they were obliged
to acknowledge that Hadleyburg was in reality an incorruptible
town; and if pressed they would also acknowledge that
the mere fact that a young man hailed from Hadleyburg
was all the recommendation he needed when he went
forth from his natal town to seek for responsible
employment.

But at last, in the drift of time, Hadleyburg had
the ill luck to offend a passing stranger—­possibly
without knowing it, certainly without caring, for
Hadleyburg was sufficient unto itself, and cared not
a rap for strangers or their opinions. Still,
it would have been well to make an exception in this
one’s case, for he was a bitter man, and revengeful.
All through his wanderings during a whole year he kept
his injury in mind, and gave all his leisure moments
to trying to invent a compensating satisfaction for
it. He contrived many plans, and all of them
were good, but none of them was quite sweeping enough:
the poorest of them would hurt a great many individuals,
but what he wanted was a plan which would comprehend
the entire town, and not let so much as one person
escape unhurt. At last he had a fortunate idea,
and when it fell into his brain it lit up his whole
head with an evil joy. He began to form a plan
at once, saying to himself “That is the thing
to do—­I will corrupt the town.”

Six months later he went to Hadleyburg, and arrived
in a buggy at the house of the old cashier of the
bank about ten at night. He got a sack out of
the buggy, shouldered it, and staggered with it through
the cottage yard, and knocked at the door. A
woman’s voice said “Come in,” and
he entered, and set his sack behind the stove in the
parlour, saying politely to the old lady who sat reading
the “Missionary Herald” by the lamp:

“Pray keep your seat, madam, I will not disturb
you. There—­now it is pretty well
concealed; one would hardly know it was there.
Can I see your husband a moment, madam?”